Much as @doomXsaloon has said, I too feel very fortunate to have been friends with @cavedave. I have especially fond memories of many Stout nites (where I first met @cavedave)and beer camps (an annual camping trip to Waterbury, VT) following the Heady Topper delivery truck, and Saturday morning scrambled eggs and morels. As many in this thread have noted CaveDave made my life a better place.
Top pic is most recent Stout Nite. @cavedave did not attend the last few. Bottom pic many years ago, the early golden (pitch black) era! @cavedave in the house!
And, finally... The Master (Ironically, he'd always say, "I SUCK at pouring!" Yet, here he is, a steady hand and keen eye for precision!)
RIP Dave, I first started corresponding with him around 2013, we both were big fans of Peekskill when the Chief was head brewer, he loved Shotgun Willie. Was fortunate to drink with Dave in early days of Other Half and at an epic Top Hops bottle share. We did keep in touch on here after that, not so much in recent years. I have a good friend who is not a beer nerd but would hit Other Half and Peekskill with me. He loves to reminisce, to this day he still talks about the day in 2014 we pounded beers with Dave at Other Half!
A tip of the hat and a toast to CaveDave for now and ever. Just like he and I did to each other on February 8th, 2014 at a beer bash bottle share get together in NYC. He brought great brews and was great company. He treated everyone and our brought brews the same; Great! Dave’s BA activities and postings were pleasantly presented, spot on. Sadly, and hopefully for his RIP, the toast from me with the Heady, as a libation, rings out to and for Dave.
Damn, this isn't the kind of news I like to see. Dave and I traded garden and foraging products over the last few years and had lots of pleasant chats, I always found him thoughtful and entertaining. He sent me a long note back in September updating me on his garden adventures for last summer and expressing his fear that we had reached an ecological tipping point, and including a couple little haikus. Getting a long note from Dave was always an adventure that I looked forward too. I hope he's found peace now in the great beyond. I'll make some tea and cook something with mushrooms in it tonight in his honor. And after this coming rain storm moves through I'll see if I can invoke him to help me find some chantrelles
Upcoming? I'm guessing you are in the northern reaches of our fine state. And chanterelles, yum! Those are not found in my neck of the "woods" unless they grow adjacent to freeways.
For those of you in the Tri-State area who knew @cavedave, either in-person, or here in the forums, we are planning the Cave Dave Commemorative Celebration at the Doom Saloon (Hudson Valley area in NY) In May. Get in touch with me via PM if you're interested in attending. Cheers
